Breaking theatre stereotypes

A group of street theatre artists

No, theatre actors in Delhi aren’t all about jholas, kurtas, chai and cigarettes. Eight professionals undo the misconceptions associated with the theatre scene in Delhi.

BAD ADDICTION

Saheb Kaur, 21I don’t drink, smoke or do drugs, and guess what? I do theatre! Why on earth do we thespians have to be singled out?

Saheb Kaur

Manisha Batra, 32If it’s not smoking or drinking, people associate us with being addicted to chai aur khana. And this allegation on us is only an effort to keep the list of ­stereotypes associated with theatre artists going strong.

GEEKY APPEARANCE

Satnam Gill, 37First of all, people look at me and say — you are into theatre, why don’t you have long hair? And secondly, because I have a stubble, they conveniently quip — Oh! Having a beard goes well with your profession!

Vivek Sharma

Vivek Sharma, 22I don’t wear a kurta and don’t carry a jhola. It is not just people outside my family, my parents also tease me for not looking like a ­typical theatre actor. I wear what everyone else does, tees and jeans.

IMPRACTICAL AND UNSOCIAL

Tarun Das, 62People think that theatre ­professionals are impractical, ­dreamers, who are lost in their own world; and ­unacceptable in society. But all that is nothing more than a nice-­sounding fairy tale.

Priyanka Sharma

Priyanka Sharma, 27I am as practical as any average Joe. One should not single out our profession with such strong beliefs.

POOR CAREER OPTION

Ankita Anand, 28It is just oversimplifying if one says that being a dramatist on stage is an ordinary career option. It is about being good at what you do, and then there are multiple probabilities for work. And that, by the way, holds true for any profession. Why single out theatre?

Digamber Prasad, 42Corporate culture has come into theatre. New things are happening, be it on the front of satires, or musicals. The money in these genres is also good.